Faces of Kansas City: Tasty treats helping children across the world

Here's a tasty little dish of information everybody may not know: every time a Royals fan orders a treat at Sheridan's at Kauffman Stadium, they're helping children a half a world away.

KCTV5's Brad Stephens first introduced viewers to kids in Zambia in February 2010 when he featured the inspiring orphanage they live in just outside Lusaka. The orphanage is called Energy of Hope and was started by Amanda Dye when she was just 22 years old.

"It's very humbling because you start something and you hope with all your heart that people will support it," said Dye.

Here's where the custard comes in. It costs money to run an orphanage and that's when one of the co-owners of Sheridan's hatched a plan. People who wanted to help Dye could volunteer to serve custard at "The K" and Sheridan's would donate their earnings to the orphanage.

''It's such an easy way to give back especially when you know the great cause that it's going to," said Jackie Thomas.

Volunteers like Thomas have been serving custard at every Royals home game this season.

"They have incredibly busy lives, but they know there are children in the world that need help and they have taken it upon themselves to find the power in their own lives to make a difference for them," said Dye. "It's an incredible thing they're doing."

Earlier this summer, a group of the Sheridan volunteers made the long journey to Africa to visit the orphanage and the kids they're helping to support.

"I remember stepping off the bus after traveling for two straight days," said Thomas. "It was 10:30 at night, the kids were supposed to be in bed. They were all just hugging us. It was one big bear hug all the time."

It's a trip she and others will never forget.

"Their dedication to this project is just incredible - we're so grateful," said Dye.

So far, they've raised more than $10,000 for the orphanage.

It's at Sheridan's that volunteering never tasted so good.

"It's never been anything where people have asked for anything other than maybe a treat at the end of the night," said Dave Robertson with Sheridan's. "I think that does lure people into thinking ‘wow, I can maybe have a Sheridan's treat and do something to serve' and were happy to do that."

Dye started the orphanage in 2007 with six kids. Today, Energy of Hope is helping more than 60 children and is looking to grow even bigger. To learn more about their work, click here.